New Jersey law requires all automobiles to be insured by their owner. Nevertheless, a large percentage of automobiles are driven every day on New Jersey streets and highways without proper automobile insurance.
As a licensed driver in the state of New Jersey, you are required to carry at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident of bodily injury insurance coverage and $5000 of property damage coverage. In addition, all drivers in New Jersey are required to carry proof of insurance, not doing so will result in a fine and other consequences.
What Happens if You are Caught Driving Without Insurance?
The Consequences of getting caught driving without auto insurance in New Jersey include:
- A fine of no less than $300 and up to $1000, up to $5000 for each subsequent conviction;
- A surcharge of $250 per year for 3 years;
- 9 insurance eligibility points for a second and every subsequent conviction;
- A suspension of your driver’s license for 1 year for a first offense and 2 years for a second offense;
- A mandatory 12 days in jail for a second offense;
- Possible community service;
- Impound, towing, and storage fees; and
- Increased auto insurance premiums
What’s more, if you are involved in an accident that was your fault, you will be required to pay for the other party’s damages out of your own pocket.
Defenses to Driving Without Insurance in New Jersey
Proving to the court that you had the proper insurance sounds like it should be easy to do. But, this is not always the case.
That said, auto insurance companies are legally required to notify you when your insurance is in danger of lapsing, and once it has lapsed, they must notify you that you are no longer covered. If you can show that you never received these notifications because the insurance company sent them to the wrong address, or offer some other reasonable explanation, the charges may be dismissed.
Similarly, if you can prove that your policy had not lapsed or that you were covered under a different policy, the charges may be dismissed.
Furthermore, if you can prove that you didn’t own the car and were, therefore, not responsible for insuring the vehicle, the charges against you may be dismissed. Be aware, however, this strategy will shift the legal burden onto the actual owner of the vehicle.
Finally, you may also be able to avoid a conviction if you can prove that you were not operating the vehicle. But, this defense will be a long shot if you were approached by law enforcement anywhere other than in front of your residence.
Contact an Experienced New Jersey Traffic Ticket Lawyer
It is important that if you have been charged with driving without insurance in New Jersey, you hire an experienced New Jersey traffic ticket attorney to help you defend the charges and mitigate the consequences of a conviction.
For more information about the penalties for driving without insurance in New Jersey and how you can fight the charges, contact an experienced New Jersey traffic ticket lawyer.